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HomeArts/LeisureThe Nightmasters kicked off 2018 Jammin' in the Alley

The Nightmasters kicked off 2018 Jammin’ in the Alley

Jammin’ In The Alley

Jammin in the AlleyClarksville, TN – Music is a year-round business for Ken Jolly and the members of The Nightmasters, but this past Friday another of Clarksville’s favorite concert series’ kicked off. This time, in Strawberry Alley, with Jammin’ in the Alley bringing hundreds of live music fans out for an evening of great entertainment in the heart of downtown.

“We’re excited to have Henry Rives back with us tonight,” Jolly said. “He’ll be sitting in on saxophone, and we are going to just blues/rock it up as usual. We take other people’s stuff, do it our own way, and it just seems to work.”

The Nightmasters opened the 2018 season of Jammin' In The Alley Friday, June 1st.
The Nightmasters opened the 2018 season of Jammin’ In The Alley Friday, June 1st.

The band of A-list musicians came together a few years back, at a weekly Sunday evening open-mic jam session at Section 125. It didn’t take long for the players and the audience to realize these guys had something special.

“We’ve been playing a lot,” Jolly said. “In the coming weeks we have some out of town gigs happening, and some private gigs. We are getting ready to open for Stacy Mitchhart at the new Downtown Commons.”

“We are also scheduled to play MB Roland’s Pickin’ on the Porch in August, and we are currently in the process of writing a lot of music. Out plan is to put together a CD of original songs.”

The band was scheduled to begin at 7:00pm. By the time The Nightmasters came on stage, Strawberry Alley was filling up with fans of the band, and others just taking advantage of a free concert on a pleasant Tennessee evening.

John Shephard of Edward’s Steak House is in charge of the 2018 season. He and David Smith have run the event the last several years, after the City of Clarksville ended its sponsorship and hosting duties.

“I think this is the tenth year of the event, either being hosted by the city or the downtown businesses,” Shephard said. “This year, we are hoping to bring more people downtown. We have more businesses down here now, so there are more restaurants and shops for people to visit, dine, shop and enjoy.

“We are only doing three concerts this year, we have done four in the past. Next month, you’ll be able to see Joel Brown and his band, and then we have the Beagles scheduled to headline our last show of the summer.

“I’m predicting at least 500 people tonight, but we’ll see. We have had as many as 1,200 – 1,500 people down here.”

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